Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-06-29
The Toliver Gang Wiped Out by Sherif's
Posse.

THE Not lRIOUs DESPERADO, Two CoU
SINS AND HIRAM COOPER RIDDLED WITE
BULLETS WHILE RESISTING OFFICERS
OF THE LAW.
LExIsGroN, KY, June 22.-This morn
ing determined men to the number of 160
all armsd With Winchester repeating rifles,
came into Morehead, under charge OF
Sheriff uogge, to serve warrant on Craig
Tolliyer, charging him with false swearing
in issuing a warrant for the arrest of the
Logan boys, killed several weeks ago. As
one of he sheriff. posse was crossing the
railroad near the watertank, about fifty
yards east Of the Raines Cottage Hotel, and
before AM attempt had been made to serve
the warrant, Craig Tollivsr, who was near
the hotel tired at him. The man lodged
behind i pile of lumber, and Tolliv or and
his two cousins, Bud and Jay Tolliver, and
Hiram Cooper went into the hotel. Then
the posse came up in the brush behind the
hotel, aud Immediately opened fire upon
the building. The house was soon sur
rounded, but at something Of distance,
as none of the sheriff's men cared to get
within range of the deadly guns tho Toll
livers knee SO we'll how to use. After fir
ing had been kept up for probably three
quarters Of an hour the Tolliver men at
tempted to leave the hotel aud cross the
railroad t. hotel on the opposite side.-
While making this foolhardy attempt the
notorious leader of the gang which has
been such a terror to Rowan county fell to
the ground pierced by four balls from the
deadly Winehesters, two going through his
head and NO through his breast.
The others got to the opposite house and
fought the posse for some time, but finding
the place less secure than they had expected
they made an attempt to recross the rail-
road to their old position. In this they
were unsuccessful, for all three of them fell
riddled ~iih rifle balls. After ascertaining
that no more resistance would be offered,
the posse picked up the dead men and
placed thern on the floor of the porch of the
Cottage Hotel. Investigation showed that
only one of the sheriff posse was wounded,
ugly flesh wound in the thigh. The fight
ing was kept up for two hours, and, as some
remarked, sounded like the Fourth of July.
During the firing the utmost CONSERVATION
prevailed among the women and children,
who ran from their houses and rushed to
the depot hoping thereby to escape the
bullets. The passenger train which is due
here at one o'clock was delayed for two
and half hours on account of the shoot
ing, as the fight began just as the engineer
whistled for Morehead. The sheriff sent a
detail of men to stop the train, but the en-
gineer, hearing the rapid firing, brought
the train to a standstill before reaching the
outskirts Of the town. After the fight was
over the engineer was permitted to run his
train into the depot, when it was immedi-
ately boarded by number of the posse
armed with their Winchesters. Ladies
screamed, and few tainted, while many
of the men had business outside. The
posse, however, carefully searched the train
for one of the Tolliver gang they thought
had escaped. Catesby Tolllver, a boy and
brother Ia Craig, had hole shot through
the leg IF his pants. The posse was COM
posed of Tie best men in Rowan county.
They appeared to be Woodworking farmers,
and were all sober, earnest looking men.
Everybody in Morehead seems glad the
Tollivers are exterminated, and people will
now breathe easier. Preparations for the
funeral are going on. A firm of this city
received an order tonight for four coffins
and four burial suits. They were sent up
tonight on the II O'Clock express.
THE WAR IN KENTUCKY TO BE RENEW
ED.-Flem;aasburg, KY, June 27-The
war in Rowan county is by no means end
ed. The escaped Tollivers are now in Elliot
county, their home, and are rapidly recruit
ing a large number of followers, and this
week they propose to retake Morehead and
kill every man they can who took part in
the recent killing of Craig Tolliver aud his
supporters and then burn the town Cal
Tolliver, brother of Craig, is at the head
Of the movement Cal. and his cousin
we're arres ed in Elliot county Friday on
warrant from Rowan county aud placed in
Jail at Mavbinsburg. That night mob of
fifty Tolliverites broke into the Jail and
'escued the prisoners. There is intense ex
element again throughout Rowan county
n anticipation of the supposed raid.